Some Red Sox trades might not depend on team’s record on July 31

TORONTO — In many ways, how many games the Red Sox win over the next week will determine what they do at the July 31 trading deadline.

Brian MacPherson Journal Sports Writer brianmacp

TORONTO — In many ways, how many games the Red Sox win over the next week will determine what they do at the July 31 trading deadline.

In other ways, however, what the Red Sox do has nothing to do with how they perform. At least a couple of veteran players on the roster figure to be available to be dealt whether the Red Sox win six straight or lose six straight coming off a disappointing series at Rogers Centre.

“I’m sure it’s going to have an impact on the type of trades we make,” Farrell said before the game Thursday, and then he pivoted. “I will say this: I think there’ll be moves that will go on regardless of our record over the next seven days.”

Reading between the lines, it seems likely that the last-place Red Sox will be open to trading pitcher Jake Peavy — the team’s most oft-discussed trade asset — and perhaps shortstop Stephen Drew. A trade of Peavy would allow the Red Sox to call up Brandon Workman and insert him into their starting rotation full-time, a level of trust he’s earned with 4.50 ERA and 88 strikeouts with 34 walks in his first 94 innings pitched in the major leagues.

Similarly, the encouraging performance of Will Middlebrooks during his rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket has created an opportunity for the Red Sox to trade away an infielder. In 74 plate appearances with the PawSox since he broke his finger, he has hit .313 with a .365 on-base percentage and a .493 slugging percentage. He’s hit three home runs, including a blast to right-center field on Wednesday night — a reminder of the 30-homer power he’s already shown in flashes at the major-league level.

“He’s put himself in a good hitter’s position,” Farrell said. “He’s been balanced. He’s not jumping out to the front side. With regular, everyday at-bats, the consistency is starting to show.”

The Red Sox aren’t going to leave Middlebrooks in Triple-A indefinitely. But the left side of the Boston infield appears set for now with Drew at shortstop and Xander Bogaerts at third base — not to mention the do-it-all Brock Holt in place to back up both positions. Someone could be traded away without the Red Sox actually losing all that much.

“We’ve got to do some things to maybe adjust the roster to accommodate that,” Farrell said. “Whether that happens naturally through this upcoming week, that remains to be seen, with the roster adjustments and any potential trades. Before even saying anything about that, I’d be getting far too ahead of myself.”

Reading between the lines, it seems clear that the Red Sox at least would be willing to trade Drew, a pending free agent — especially if they fall any further out of the race. But it’d also be hard to imagine the Red Sox rebuffing a team that makes an aggressive play for Middlebrooks, who has struggled both with injuries and big-league breaking pitches.

Another pending free agent who might be traded regardless is power-hitting outfielder Jonny Gomes. If the Red Sox were in contention, they probably wouldn’t look to move Gomes — but with their playoff odds already slim and prospect Mookie Betts waiting in Pawtucket, a Gomes trade could make sense whether they make a run this week or not.